PSG defeated Arsenal 4-3 on penalties to retain the UEFA Champions League crown after the teams remained deadlocked following extra time in the showpiece final of the continental competition in Budapest on Saturday.
PSG boss Luis Enrique became the first manager since former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane to defend the continental crown, and joined a prestigious list including the likes of legendary name Jose Villalonga, Luis Carniglia, who also helmed Los Blancos to the European Cup, the predecessor of the modern UCL, Benfica’s Bela Guttmann, Inter icon Helenio Herrera, Ajax stalwart Stefan Kovacs, Bayern Dettmar Cramer, Liverpool legend Bob Paisley, Nottingham’s treasure Brian Clough, and AC Milan idol Arrigo Sacchi.
Ousmane Dembele’s second-half
spot-kick cancelled out Kai Havertz’s opener, before shootout misses from Eberechi Eze and Gabriel ultimately proved decisive for the Gunners at the last hurdle.
The victory secured a second UCL title for PSG, while Arsenal were denied a first-ever continental trophy after faltering at the final step, despite a landmark season in which Mikel Arteta ended a 22-year wait for the English top-flight title for the club.
Havertz, who scored the winner for Chelsea in the UCL five years ago, put Arsenal ahead early on, racing onto a swift counter-attack and drilling his finish past Sefanov to send the travelling supporters into raptures.
Arsenal preserved their lead as the sides went into the interval, with Arteta’s men successfully protecting their narrow advantage.
PSG emerged much sharper after the break, repeatedly testing Arsenal’s backline as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia relentlessly troubled the Gunners’ defence.
A foul on the marauding Kvaratskhelia in the box by Mosquera prompted the referee to award a penalty. Having failed to breach Arsenal’s defence in open play, PSG seized the opportunity as Dembele powered his spot-kick beyond the diving David Raya to level the scores.
In the shootout, Goncalo Ramos, Desire Doue, Achraf Hakimi and Beraldo all converted for PSG, while Nuno Mendes saw his effort saved by Raya. For Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli scored from the spot, but the misses from Eze and Gabriel ensured PSG held on to their title.
